Penn State announces depth chart for opener

Little revealed in Paterno's list

August 29, 2010|By Mark Wogenrich, OF THE MORNING CALL

Joe Paterno isn't tipping much of anything with his sanctioned depth chart, released Sunday, for the Sept. 4 season-opener against Youngstown State. In particular, the named starters at quarterback (Matt McGloin OR Kevin Newsome OR Robert Bolden) reveal little. The top three are listed in chronological order, for crying out loud, and Paul Jones reportedly is on track for a redshirt.

The prediction here is that Newsome starts Saturday against the Penguins, though that may be role-playing semantics. Newsome, McGloin and Bolden all will get snaps in the first game.

Otherwise, here's a look at the offensive depth chart, with a few notes to follow.

Wide Receiver

6 Derek Moye (6-5, 202, Sr/Jr)

19 Justin Brown (6-3, 216, So/So)

8 Brandon Moseby-Felder (6-2, 176, So/Fr)

Left Tackle

67 Quinn Barham (6-3, 298, Sr/Jr)

78 Mike Farrell (6-6, 303, Jr/So)

76 Nate Cadogan (6-5, 297, So/Fr)

Left Guard

50 DeOnʼtae Pannell (6-5, 317, Jr/Jr)

74 Johnnie Troutman (6-4, 323, Sr/Jr)

75 Eric Shrive (6-6, 299, So/Fr)

Center

68 Doug Klopacz (6-3, 286, Sr/Sr)*

54 Matt Stankiewitch (6-3, 293, Jr/So)

60 Ty Howle (6-0, 290, So/Fr)

Right Guard

61 Stefen Wisniewski (6-3, 306, Sr/Sr)

64 John Urschel (6-3, 286, So/Fr)

73 Mark Arcidiacono (6-4, 279, So/Fr)

Right Tackle

77 Lou Eliades (6-4, 310, Gr/Sr)*

52 Chima Okoli (6-4, 291, Sr/Jr)

58 Adam Gress (6-6, 293, So/Fr)

Tight End

89 Garry Gilliam (6-6, 263, So/Fr)

82 Kevin Haplea (6-4, 249, Fr/Fr)

13 Mark Wedderburn (6-6, 229, Jr/So)

Quarterback

11 Matt McGloin (6-1, 209, Jr/So) OR

12 Kevin Newsome (6-2, 225, So/So) OR

1 Robert Bolden (6-3, 221, Fr/Fr)

10 Paul Jones (6-3, 239, Fr/Fr)

Running Back

22 Evan Royster (6-1, 228, Gr/Sr) – TB*

21 Stephfon Green (5-10, 197, Sr/Jr) – TB

26 Curtis Dukes (6-1, 237, So/Fr) - TB

37 Joe Suhey (6-1, 227, Sr/Jr) – RB

9 Michael Zordich (6-1, 236, Jr/So) - RB

Wide Receiver

5 Graham Zug (6-2, 185, Sr/Sr)*

83 Brett Brackett (6-6, 242, Gr/Sr)*

Wide Receiver

20 Devon Smith (5-7, 157, So/So)

4 Shawney Kersey (6-1, 197, So/Fr)

At left guard, Pannell and Troutman both had extra eyes on them during preseason drills. Troutman was among Penn State's better linemen last year and needs to find a place in the rotation. Klopacz retaining the center spot from spring is a good sign -- for now.

Andrew Szczerba, Penn State's most experienced tight end, doesn't appear on the depth chart because of a lingering injury. That's a concern, since neither of the top two players at the position have been on the field yet. This might produce creative uses of receiver Brett Brackett or 237-pound running back Curtis Dukes. It also might require more field time for Green, who offensive coordinator Galen Hall called the team's best pass blocker.

The depth of potential at wide receiver is striking, even without the injured Curtis Drake. Moye and Zug are proven pass-catchers, while Brown, Kersey and Moseby-Felder can make moves in Drake's absence. Smith showed last year he can be shifted around the field in a variety of ways.

DEFENSE

Left End

81 Jack Crawford (6-5, 271, Jr/Jr)

44 Kevion Latham (6-2, 252,Sr/Jr)

84 Kyle Baublitz (6-5, 267, Fr/Fr)

Left Tackle

85 Ollie Ogbu (6-1, 300, Sr/Sr)*

93 James Terry (6-3, 312, Jr/So)

99 Brandon Ware (6-3, 337, Jr/So)

Right Tackle

71 Devon Still (6-5, 311, Sr/Jr)

47 Jordan Hill (6-1, 309, So/So)

Right End

56 Eric Latimore (6-6, 280, Sr/Jr)

90 Sean Stanley (6-1, 242, So/So)

59 Pete Massaro (6-4, 255, Jr/So)

Outside Linebacker

34 Nate Stupar (6-1, 231, Sr/Jr)

42 Michael Mauti (6-2, 229, Jr/So)

11 Khairi Fortt (6-2, 233, Fr/Fr)

Inside Linebacker

48 Chris Colasanti (6-2, 241, Sr/Sr)

33 Michael Yancich (6-2, 236,So/Fr)

Outside Linebacker

15 Bani Gbadyu (6-1, 241, Sr/Sr)*

6 Gerald Hodges (6-2,228,So/So)

54 Jamie Van Fleet (6-0, 224,Jr/So)

Left Cornerback

8 DʼAnton Lynn (6-1, 200, Jr/Jr)

5 Derrick Thomas (6-0, 178,So/Fr)

14 Mike Wallace (5-9, 1834, So/Fr)

Free Safety

1 Nick Sukay (6-1, 209, Sr/Jr)

10 Malcolm Willis (5-11, 217,So/Fr)

23 Stephen Obeng-Agyapong (5-10, 196, So/Fr)

Hero

28 Drew Astorino (5-10, 193, Sr/Jr)

13 Andrew Dailey (6-2, 222, Sr/Jr)

27 Jake Fagnano (6-0, 203, Jr/So)

Right Cornerback

2 Chaz Powell (6-1, 196, Sr/Jr)

12 Stephon Morris (5-8, 185, So/So)

16 Shelton McCullough (6-0, 187, Gr/Sr)

The starting defensive line of Crawford, Ogbu, Still and Latimore is this team's strength by far. Position coach Larry Johnson Sr. might not be tinkering with the line as much as he has in the past.

Linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden, however, will be tinkering more, with a six-deep group of players. Mauti will find his way onto the field quite a bit, even if he doesn't start against Youngstown State. Hodges will as well.

In the secondary, Powell ahead of Morris is due to the neck injury Morris sustained early in drills. Morris likely will be eased back into the lineup. Depth at the safety spots seems shaky.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter

30 Anthony Fera (6-2, 210, So/Fr)

29 Russell Nye (6-0, 163, Jr/So)

Kicker

36 Collin Wagner (5-9,183, Sr/Sr)*

28 David Soldner (6-1, 227, Jr/So)

30 Anthony Fera (6-2, 210, So/Fr)

Holder

83 Brett Brackett (6-6, 242, Gr/Sr)*

11 Matt McGloin (6-1, 209, Jr/So)

Kick Snapper

60 Ty Howle (6-0, 290, So/Fr) (PAT/FG)

54 Matt Stankiewitch (6-3, 293, Jr/So)

57 Emery Etter (6-1, 230, So/Fr) (Punts)

Kickoff Returners

2 Chaz Powell (6-1, 196, Sr/Jr)

20 Devon Smith (5-7, 157, So/So)

21 Stephfon Green (5-10, 197, Sr/Jr)

Punt Returners

19 Justin Brown (6-3, 216, So/So)

28 Drew Astorino (5-10, 193, Sr/Jr)

20 Devon Smith (5-7, 157, So/So)

Fera's shift from kicker to punter appears complete. Barring obstacles, he could be a four-year starter at punter and also handle some kicking duties. He likely will handle kickoffs for the Lions this season.

On the punt return team, a strategy change seems to have occurred. Though Astorino remains listed, likely in his fair-catch role, Brown and Smith bring a more-aggressive approach to the group. As in, actually returning punts for yardage.